Newly-minted Sen. Scott Brown refuses Palin, Tea Party invite

Sen. Scott Brown, whose unexpected victory saw the end of a legacy of liberalism in Massachusetts, is now refusing an invitation from the Tea Party movement — and Sarah Palin, the very figures who helped Brown score his Senate seat.

Tea Partiers are gathering for a massive rally on Boston Common where Palin is scheduled to speak Wednesday.

Some experts, not surprisingly, are saying Brown has tossed the Tea Party overboard.

Ã¢â‚¬Å“YouÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re worried at a rally that thereÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s a sign, a statement, an incident thatÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s certifiably cuckoo occurs,Ã¢â‚¬Â political analyst Lou DiNatale told the paper. Ã¢â‚¬Å“To win re-election, Scott Brown floating to the right is a serious problem.

Ã¢â‚¬Å“And showing up at a Sarah Palin, Tea Party event is not the way to the middle.Ã¢â‚¬Â

Brown says he can’t attend because of his busy Senate schedule — but that he applauds the “energy and enthusiasm” Palin and the Tea Party protesters bring to his home state.